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Forth Defences, Middle, Inchmickery Battery, No.1 Gun, Twin 6-pounder
Coastal Battery (Second World War), Observation Post (Second World War)
Site Name Forth Defences, Middle, Inchmickery Battery, No.1 Gun, Twin 6-pounder
Classification Coastal Battery (Second World War), Observation Post (Second World War)
Alternative Name(s) Forth Defences; World War I; World War Ii
Canmore ID 121775
Site Number NT28SW 1.01
NGR NT 20679 80546
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/121775
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT28SW 1.01 2069 8053
The most easterly of the three coast batteries on Inchmickery Island. Two brick and concrete twin 6 pounder emplacements with observation towers, magazines, workshops, engine rooms, searchlight platforms and shelters survive.
Early in the First World War the Admiralty decided that the chain of islands in the Forth estuary, Inchcolm (NT18SE.22.00), Inchmickery and Cramond (NT17NE 71.00 and NT17NE 100 ) should be fortified. In support of the outer line of the submarine net defence, 12 pounder (Naval) Quick Firing (QF) guns were mounted on Inchmickery. The battery was first manned in 1915. In the revised general scheme of the revision of the Forth Defences it was decided to remove these and replace them with four QF 4-inch MkIII guns. During 1916 and 1917 the guns were transferred from Inch Garvie (NT17NW 192) and were subsequently removed in 1924.
During the Second World War, Inchmickery was armed with two 6 pounders Mk I on Mk I mountings with gun numbers 24 and 25, these being installed between December 1939 and January 1940 respectively. It is not clear when these guns were removed. There is an inscription by the pier which reads
' No. 10 Section,
2 Company, C of E (F),
Royal Engineers,
1939 - 1940'.
J A Guy 1997; NMRS MS 810/5,107,110,112,113,115,119-20; PRO WO/192/256
A short visit was made to the island in late February 2010 by RCAHMS to undertake a rapid photographic survey. The field investigator noted the remains of what was No.1 Gun emplacement which stands with the associated Battery Observation Post in the E of the island.
The brick and concrete emplacement is of note in that the gun pit and platform is supported by concrete butresses set out in a fan pattern below the gun platform, as it extends out over a small cliff. The concrete canopy has been pushed in and access to the internal area is dangerous. To the rear are the associated magazines and Observation Post.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE, AL), 23 February 2010
